Wiggling one’s ears is a unique ability that prompts a simple question: is it a harmless trick or a cause for medical concern? For the vast majority of people, this is a completely benign action. The ability is a remnant of human evolution, involving tiny muscles largely unused in modern life. The conscious movement of the outer ear poses no medical risk to the delicate structures of the inner ear or hearing ability.
The Vestigial Muscles That Allow Ear Wiggling
The ability to wiggle the ear is controlled by a group of three muscles known as the auricular muscles. These muscles are named based on their position: the anterior auricular muscle, the superior auricular muscle, and the posterior auricular muscle. They connect the outer ear, or auricle, to the surrounding skull and scalp.
In many other mammals, these muscles are highly developed and functional, allowing animals like dogs and cats to swivel their ears to locate and funnel sound. This movement helped their ancestors efficiently track sound waves, which was important for survival.
In humans, however, these muscles have become vestigial, meaning they have lost their original function over millions of years of evolution. The loss of function is likely because humans developed more proficient visual and vocal systems, reducing the evolutionary pressure to move the ears. While these muscles are considered rudimentary, they show some involuntary movement during moments of intense listening, but provide no perceivable benefit to hearing.
Addressing the Concern: Is There Any Medical Harm?
The conscious contraction of the auricular muscles is a purely muscular and neurological action that occurs externally, causing no damage to the ear’s internal structures. Wiggling the ear does not impact the eardrum, the tiny bones of the middle ear, or the cochlea of the inner ear. The action simply involves superficial muscles on the head and scalp that tug the outer ear.
There is no established medical evidence linking ear wiggling to common concerns like hearing loss, muscle strain in the jaw, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The force generated by these small, vestigial muscles is negligible compared to the powerful muscles of the jaw. Therefore, the repetitive movement does not place undue mechanical stress on any sensitive areas.
The neural pathways controlling these muscles are entirely separate from the auditory system’s sensitive components. Any concern that wiggling the outer ear could harm the ability to hear is unfounded.
Motor Control and the Ability to Wiggle
The variation in the ability to wiggle ears among individuals is primarily due to differences in motor control, not muscle size or strength. The auricular muscles are innervated by the facial nerve, but the degree of conscious control over these muscles varies widely. In many people, the neural pathway governing voluntary ear movement is dormant or simply not developed.
For those who can wiggle their ears, a more active white matter pathway allows for intentional control over these vestigial muscles. This control is thought to involve higher cortical centers, such as the primary motor cortex in the brain. The ability is often learned through practice, demonstrating that the necessary muscular and nervous system components are present in nearly everyone.
The ability to gain intentional, selective control over these particular muscles suggests a degree of neuroplasticity. Researchers have hypothesized that practicing ear wiggling could potentially aid recovery after a stroke or traumatic brain injury, reflecting the complex motor planning involved.